Woolhampton is a bit more of a village, Bradfield Southend more a long strip of houses. Bradfield Southend has a decent looking shop and pub though, it’s just spread out more. There’s a fish and chip van that appears one evening a week.
I’m North Newbury, but the Bradfield road is my default cycling route, so I ride through there 2-3 times a week (and have for…jeez, 12 years?).
Main thing to consider about BS is Christmas. A load of houses have massive light displays for the whole of December and it’s what passes for a tourist attraction round here.
Do you like Christmas and decorating your house?
I’d probably pick BS over Woolhampton, but it would depend on the house and exact position mainly.
Both are nice places, lots of countryside, excellent road riding on quiet lanes and OK off-road if you don’t mind stuff that can be ridden on a gravel bike. It’s a gnar free zone.
Oh, my boss lives in BS. He likes it.